Pentecost 17A/Proper 21
Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
Philippians 2:1-13
Matthew 21:23-32
Gracious God, take our minds and think through them;
take our hands and work through them;
take our hearts and set them on fire. Amen.
We’ve jumped ahead to the beginning of the endgame in Matthew’s gospel. Today’s reading comes directly after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, what we celebrate as Palm Sunday. That holy procession took him and his followers straight to the temple where he occupied center stage for two days.
The first he spent cleansing the Temple, violently overturning the money-changers tables and then healing those in need. The second he spent debating, teaching, telling parables, and pronouncing “woe” to the powers that be.[1]
Today’s passage occurs on that second day, and features a debate and a parable. After yesterday’s stunt, the chief priests and elders were out to reassert their power. Scripture and tradition said that they have the authority here, that they are the ones in charge, and they were none to happy about the challenge Jesus posed. And so they were trying to trap Jesus in blasphemy when they asked him by what authority he was doing all these things.
But Jesus turned their question around on them, asking them about the origin of John’s baptism, and they were put on the spot – with neither possible answer being satisfactory.
If they said John’s baptism came from heaven, then their world would be turned upside down because it would mean God is on the move in new ways. As those with privilege and power, change felt like loss to them. And, it would also be a tacit acknowledgement of where Jesus’ authority came from as well, something they didn’t want to admit at all, let alone publicly.
But, if they said John’s baptism was of human origin, then they were saying that John was not a prophet, not a messenger sent by God. This was something the gathered crowds believed to be true, and denying it could very well lead to resistance and revolt against them.
Facing this conundrum, they took the easy way out and said, “We don’t know.” True to his word Jesus didn’t answer their question in return. But in a classic Jesus move, he went on to tell a parable and continue to push back against the status quo.
As far as his parables go, the one about the two sons seems pretty straight forward. Who does the will of his father? The hypocrite who says he will work, but doesn’t – or the apparently ungrateful one who says he won’t work, but then does?
Jewish tradition taught that what matters is not saying but doing, and so Jesus affirmed standard Jewish theology with this parable. So why tell it?
The clue is in the use of the action of changing one’s mind.
The word used for the son’s “change of mind” is metamelomai, literally “to change one’s cares” or “to feel remorse or regret.” It is an echo of John the Baptist’s call to repent (from the word metanoia).
And so the driving idea behind the son changing his mind is that he felt remorse and regret, which let him to change his behavior.[2]
This parable, however, is not just a simple contrast between a good brother and a bad one – they both fell short of their father’s wishes. The only difference between them is the remorseful transformation. We all fall short, the parable suggests, but what matters is the willingness to be open to changing our minds and our lives.[3]
Jesus concluded the parable by saying that all those who walk in the way of righteousness in both words and deeds will be welcomed into God’s kingdom first. Therefore all those who repented and were baptized by John, who followed Jesus and then raised palms and songs of hosanna as he entered Jerusalem, all those tax collectors and prostitutes, all those who opened their hearts to God’s righteousness and doing God’s will, come first.
And for those who saw that righteousness, and yet refused to change their minds – like the chief priests and elders? Well, they will follow afterward – not in the place of honor, not from a position of power.
This interaction with the powers that be sealed Jesus’ fate. With their power and authority threatened, the religious authorities colluded with the civil government to eliminate the threat. In just a few short days Jesus would be crucified.
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This short interaction and the parable within it as if it were written for us now. Jesus is still speaking but the question remains as always, do we have ears to hear?
Because when I look at our common life in America right now, I am heartbroken. The division, the hate, and the hypocrisy. The way fear is both a weapon and an idol that we worship.
And oh Lord the self-righteousness we’ve been infected with! Not Jesus’ righteousness, but that self-righteousness that starts with the belief that we’re better than other people, and always ends with us being our very worst selves. [4]
Today’s reading provides us with the uncomfortable opportunity to examine whether our words and deeds align – whether we are doing the Father’s will. It is literally a come to Jesus moment for us to speak truth in love to ourselves about our level of investment in the ways of the world versus the way of love Jesus calls us into.
How many of us say all the right words on Sunday, and then turn around and engage in conversations that include derogatory and dehumanizing comments about others – seeking out people we know will agree with us to create an echo-chamber of “we’re right, they’re wrong.”?
How often on social media do we share an inspirational quote or prayer, and then post a meme that ridicules someone or something, share a story designed to spark outrage without first even fact checking it, or like post that lacks compassion, mercy, or grace?
I want to do better myself, and I want the people around me to do better as well. Jesus calls us to match our words and deeds – to walk in the ways of Jesus’ righteousness and not our own self-righteousness.
He interrupts and disrupts the ways in which self-righteousness and privilege, and piety and power, often intermingle and become confused. He wants our very lives, and he will do whatever it takes to unmask our deadly worldly priorities and call us to faith in him alone.[5]
Jesus’ questions are rarely about right answers, they are about calling his followers – then and now – to change their minds. He asks us to pray about our own resistance to change and then to open our hearts and minds to being transformed.
This can be scary and hard, it is uncomfortable, but it is essential. It is essential if we are to live faithfully, and I believe it is essential if we are going to begin the work of repairing what is broken in our common life.
As Paul’s letter to the Philippians says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in the Christ Jesus.”
In this way, we may work out our salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in us, enabling us to do the will of the Father.[6]
And so the choice before us is to cling to the ways of the world or to open ourselves to God’s transforming love so that we can use that transformation for the healing of the world.
So, what change of mind needs to happen in your life to align your heart, your mouth, and your actions? What is one thing you will do this week to follow Jesus in righteousness? I invite you to join me in praying about this – and then in living it. Amen.
[1] Matthew 21:23-24:2
[2] SaltProject Lectionary Commentary for the Seventeenth Week after Pentecost.
[3] SaltProject Lectionary Commentary for the Seventeenth Week after Pentecost.
[4] http://theblueroomblog.org/read-this-now-brene-browns-rising-strong/
[5] Charles Campbell, Homiletical Perspective, Feasting on the Word Year A, Volume 4.
[6] Philippians 2:12b-13.